Excavating machine



c. E. KzNG ET AL 1,783,293

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12I 1925 l I5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 2, 1930.

c. B. KING ET AL EXCAVATING MACHINE 1925l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l2

gnomo/rs. 6.5. K/N.

v Dec. 2; 1930. B KlNG ET A| 1,783,293

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Feb. l2, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet fl4 im "of 53 52 5,

Gunn,

Patented Dec. 2, 1930 A UNITED sTAras 'PATENT OFFICE CHARLES B'. KING, lBIILTJAILIIIW JAcoBY, AND DWIGHT J. sIrEL'roN, or MARION, omo, AssIGNoRs 'ro THE MARION STEAM sHovnL COMPANY, or MARION, oHIo, A coa- PORATION OF OHIO 4' c EXcAva'rING MACHINE appncation'iea February 12,1923. 4serial No. 618,701.

This invention relatesv to eXcavating'machines and more particularly to crawling traction mechanism for propelling and steering such machines.' It has beenjcustomary 5 to mount excavating machines 0f the smaller types on ,crawling traction-devices and to `steer the-:same by controlling thev relative movements ofthe two tractiondevices.V This type of mechanism cannot be satisfactorily applied to the larger sizes of excavating machinesbecause ofthe excessive length of the traction device. Y Y

One object of the invention is to provide crawling traction devices for propellingand steering' a machine of this kind which will be of such a character and so arranged and operated that they can be applied to eX- cavating `machines of any size with entire satisfaction.

A further object oftheinvention is to providel separate traction devices for propelling and steering the machine; and to provide power operated means for imparting steering movement to the steering traction de-` 125 vices.

Aifurtherobject of the-invention isto so arrange the traction devices that they `will adequately Vbrace the machine against lat eral strain; without interfering "with the free steeringof the machine. 1

Other. objectsof theinvention will appear as. the mechanismis described in detail. In theY accompanying drawings Fig.Y l` is aside' elevation of an excavatingmachine embodying our'invent-ion; Fig.l 2 .is a plan view fof the same, partly broken away,V` and with the cab removed; Fig. Slis a section takenvon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2'; Fig. 4 is a section takenron the line 4 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly insection,V of one of the supportingy members for :the propelling traction devices; Fig. 6 isfan-end lelevation of said supporting member; Fig. 7 is a sectionV taken on the line 747 of Fig. "5; and Fig. 8 is a. front elevatcn of .the fc'rward AThe several parts described as mounted 0n traction devices showing the main frame partly in section. v

In these drawings we'have illustrated one embodiment, of our invention and have shown the same as applied to a steam shovel of Vwhat is known as the Vrailroad type. These shovels are yof largecapacity and have a relatively .long'frame While they are fre'- quently `mounted on railway trucks for use on'tracks they maybe and often are mounted Yon tractor wheels for use without tracks. It `will beunderstood, however, thatthis particular embodiment of the invention has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that the invention may be applied to excavating machines of various kinds or sizes and that the traction devices them selves and the manner of mounting and controllingthe same may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. I ,Y v '1 Inthat particular form of the invention here illust-rated thel excavating machine ccmprises a main frame l which is supported at its front end by crawling traction ldevices 2 Yframe in the rear of the excavating mecha nism are stea-m'engines 5 which operatesuitable mechanism 6 for actuating the excavating mechanism and for propelling the machine from one position to another. On the rear portion of the frame 1 is a steam plant 7,

the frame l are of well known construction and neednotA be here described in detail.

vln the present arrangement of the crawling traction device both pairs of traction devices 'firepower d1:ilven,'therear paifr'servngboth a as propelling devices and as steering devices but, if desire-d, the front pair of traction de vices only may be power driven to propel the machine and those at the rear of the machine may serve solely to steer the machine as it is propelled by the front traction devices.

The traction devices themselves may be of any suitable character but preferably each traction device 3 of the rear pair comprises a rigid frame 8 having journaled in the front and rear ends thereof drums 9 about which extends a belt or endless track 10. The rear traction devices are mounted for movement about a vert-ical axis so that they can be moved about said axis for steering purposes. To this end we have mounted beneath the rear portion of the main frame 1 a steering frame or head 11 which is rotatably mounted upon a pin or trunnion 12 carried by and de-` pending from the main frame at a point substantially midway between the lateral'edges thereof. Carried by this frame is an axle 13 upon the end portions of which the rigid frame members 8 of the respective traction devices are mounted, so that each traction device has independent movement about an axis transverse to its length. It is also desirable that each traction device should be capable of vertical movement as a whole, to enable the mechanism to better accommodate itself to irregularities in the surface over which it is traveling. To permit of this movement of the traction devices we have mounted in the steering frame 11 a cross head 14 having at its ends trunnions 15 which are journaled in bearings 16 in the frame 11, and the axle 13 is mounted in this cross head. Consequently theaxle may rock about an axis transverse to itslength and extending lengthwise of the main frame to permit each traction device as a whe-le to rise and fall. The individual traction devices may move about the axis of the axle 13 with a rocking movement, and the axle is capable of movement about a vertical axis, that is, the axis of the frame 11, to enable the traction devices to be adjusted for steering purposes. The steering movement may be imparted to the traction devices in any suitable manner but preferably power operated mechanism is employed for this purpose. In the particular form of the device here shown we have provided the steer'- ing frame 11 with an arm 17 which preferably extends forwardly and is provided in its forward end with a guideway 18 in which is slidably mounted a shank 19 of al yoke 20. Pivotally mounted on a vertical axis between the arms of the yoke is a nut 21 through which extends a screw threaded shaft 22. This shaft or screw extends transversely to the main frame and is journaled at one end in a bearing 23 and at its other end in bearing 24 and 25. Rigidly secured to the screw shaft and-arranged between the bearings, 24 and 25, is a spiral gear 26 which meshes with a second spiral gear 27 mounted on a shaft 28 which exten-ds lengthwise of the main frame 1, along one of the side members thereof, and has secured thereto near the rear end of the frame, a gear 29 which meshes with a pinion 30 on the shaft 31 of a steam engine 32. It will be apparent therefore that the operation of the steam engine will rotate the shaft 28 and the screw 22 in one direction or the other and that the rotation of the screw will cause the nut 21 to travel along the same, thereby rocking the steering frame 11 and consequently the traction devices 3 about a vertical axis.. This movement of the traction devices is preferably Linder the control of the operator at the forward end of the machine and to this end the engine is provided with a suitable controlling valve having an operating arm 33 which is connected by a rod 311 with one arm of a bell crank lever 35 which is here shown as mounted on the cab near the roof thereof and the other arm of which is connected by ay rod 3G with an operating lever 37 at the forward end of the cab and adjacent to the operatorsposition.

It will be noted that the steering traction devices 3 are arranged relatively close together, being in the present instance, arranged well within the lateral limits of the main frame 1. Consequently they offer a minimum of resistance to the steering movement and the steering of the machine is facilitated. Excavating machines of this type are subjected to severe lateral strains. The boom and excavating dipper have a swinging movement through an are of at least 180o so that the excavating may be done on either side or in front of the machine and the loaded dipper may be swung from one side to theother. The boom being of considerable length and the dipper of large capacityl a very great strain is imposed upon the machine which tends to tilt it about an axis extending lengthwise thereof. To overcome this tilting strain in a railway type shovel it has been customary to provide jacks or braces extending from the frame to the ground on both sides of the machine. These braces, of course, had to be removed or elevated each time the machine was shifted from one position to another and then readjusted. In the present machine we have so mounted and arranged the forward traction devices, 2, that they serve to brace the machine against lateral tilting movement. The traction devices 2 are similar in construction to the traction devices 3 and each comprises a rigid main frame 38 having journaled in the front and rear ends thereof drums 39 about which extends the endless track or belt 40. As has been stated these forward traction devices serve to propel the machine and to this end the driving mechanismv on the main frame is suitably connected with the respective traction devices.` As here shown each of the reardrums 39 of the traction device 2 has connected-therewith `a gear 4lv with whichV ,Y meshesa plnion 42 which issecuredto `a shaft 43one end'of which is j ournaled in the frame 38 of the traction device and the other end of which is connected with suitable transmission mechanism v44 which is `operated through suitable driving` connections 45 bythe engines 5 o-n the-mainframe The shaft 43 is provided with universal-jointsltwhich enable it to ac ,commodateitself to the ymovements of the traction device. The rigid frames 38 ofthe traction devices are pivotally mounted ,on axles or trunnions-47` which are secured to the main frame,

mounted in `sockets or bearings 48 rigidly These sockets are preferably:soarranged with relation to the mainframe that the traction devices will'be supportedbeyond and at considerable distance romthe respective sides of the main-rameand the socketsV are so connected vwith the main Aframe as to constitute brace 'connections between t-he traction devices andthe frame. By thusgiving the forward traction device a very wide tread and bracingthem against the frameof-the machine they take the place of the bracing jacks which are commonly usedto hold the frame against lateral tilting movement. The sockets 48 may befconnected-I with the frame in any suitable mannerbut, inthe -lugs 50 is by meansof apin 53 and the link 51 is connected with the bracketand the bolster by pins 54. The .links may beof any suitable construction but, as here shown, A theyv consist of side members 55 connecting f one to theother at'their lower edges a transverse Aweb 56 andr having their `.ends

spaced apa-rt-:tojreceive between them, re-

spectively, portions of the bracket/,49 and of the bolster 52. The triangular'bracket or supporting structurej for each tract-ion device is braced against foreiand `aft movement'by Y, h

scribed, a mam frame, a pivot pindepending 4from said mainframe, a steering frame having a vertical bearing toV receive saidpivot brace rods'57-g`which are' .connected attheir outer ends with the bracket and at their inner ends with the main frame. i j

"With the mechanism so -ardescribedf the machine will be propelled by the front traction devices, the rear traction `devices serving only assteering devices. When the. steering traction devices are also-tobeipower driven, to assist in propelling the machine, `they may be driven from any suitable source oitpovver and through anysuitable mechanism which will not rinterfere with their steering move- :ment- In the present instance-We .have/,Shown separate driving engine mounted on the *supspective sides of the steering-frame and has bearings in which the axle is mounted so that "the engine frame is supportedfby the axle.

The engine shaft 61 is connected by a sprocket drive 62 with the axle 113, which thus constitutes a driving shaft, and theaxle'is provided on each outer end with asprocketwheel 63 which is connected bya sprocket chain G4V with a second sprocket wheel 65 secured to the drum of the adjacent traction device so that the latter will be driven from the axle. In order to hold the engine frame 59 against .movement about the longitudinal axis of the axle 13 1t 1s connected with the steering frame l1 and, as hereeshown, this ,connection comprises a socketor bearing 66` formed inthe engine frame in line-with the rear bearing 16 of the steeringvframe and adapted` to receive the end of the rear trunnion l5 which is of suincient length to extend beyond Athe bearinglG and into the socket 66; This arrangement causes the engine frame to be supported normally in a horizontal position but permits the same to have movement with the steering head about the horizontal transverse axis thereby avoiding any interference .with thedriving connection between theehgine and the traction devices by the movee ment of the axle aboutthis transverse ',ajxis.

While we have shownV anddescribed `miie embodiment of our invention we wish itl to be understood that we do not desireto be `limited to the details thereof asvarious modiy.ications may occur Vto oneskilled in the art.

Having now Vfully described our invention` 4:what we claim as new and desire tosecu're j Vby'llietters Patent, is: i

l. In a mechanism. of the 4'character depin, an axle mounted on saidsteeringframe beneath said bearing for rocking-movement -with relation to said steering fra-me about an axis ext-ending lengthwise ofsaid main frame,

vtraction devices connected with the respective .endsv of said axle, an arm projecting fromv said steering frame,` means carried by said main frame for actuating said `arm Ato move said lsteering fra-me andA` said axle about the @5in .Ofsld pvot pin, anlengi'ne supporting structure carried by said axle and movable therewith about the axis of said pivot pin, an engine mounted on said structure, and driving connections between said engine and said traction devices.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means to support one end of said frame, an axle mounted beneath the other end of said frame 'for movement about a vertical axis, a steering frame mounted on said axle, means acting on said steering frame to move said axle aboutI said vertical axis, an engine frame mounted on said axle, an engine mounted on said engine frame and having operative connection with the respective traction devices, and means for connecting said engine frame with said steering` frame to hold the engine frame against movement about said axle.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, traction devices to support one end of said frame, a steering frame mounted beneath the other end of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, a transverse axle mounted in said steering frame for movement about an axis extending lengthwise of said main frame, crawling traction devices carried by the respective ends of said axle, means for actuating said steering frame to move said axle, and said traction devices about said vertical axis, an engine frame mounted on said axle, an engine carried by said engine frame and having an operative connection with the respective traction devices, said engine frame having a bearing arranged in line with the axis of said axle which extends lengthwise of said main frame, and a part carried by said steering frame andmounted in said bearing of said engine frame.

t. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, traction devices to support one end of said frame, a steering frame mounted beneath the other end of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, said steering frame having bearings in the front and rear ends thereof, a cross head having trunnions journaled in said bearings, an axle mounted in said cross head, crawling traction devices mounted on the respective ends of said axle, means for actuating said steering frame to move said axle and said traction devices about said vertical axis, an engine frame mounted on said axle, an engine carried by said frame and having an operative connection with the respective crawling traction devices, said engine frame having a bearing arranged in line with the rear bearing in said steering frame and one of the trunnions of said cross head being extended beyond the rear bearing of said steering frame into the bearing in said engine frame.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means for supporting one end of said main frame, a steering frame mounted beneath the other end of said frame for movement about a vertical axis, an axle j ournaled on said steering frame, traction devices carried by said axle, means for moving said steering frame and said axle about said vertical axis, an engine frame mounted directly on said axle and held against rotation therewith, an engine carried by said frame, a driving connection between said engine and said axle, and a driving connection between said axle and each of said traction devices.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means for supporting one end of said main trame, a steering trame mounted beneath the other end of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, a cross head pivotally mounted on said steering Jframe on a substantially horizontal axis, an axle mounted in said cross head, traction devices mounted on the respective ends of said axle, an arm connected with said steering frame, and power operated means connected with said arm to move said steering frame and said axle about said vertical axis.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means for supporting one end of said main frame, an axle mounted beneath the other end of said frame Jfor movement about a vertical axis, traction devices carried by said axle, means for moving said axle and said traction devices about said vertical axis, an engine frame journaled on said axle and extending lengthwise of said main frame, an engine carried by said engine frame and having operative connection with the respective traction devices, and means :tor holding said engine frame against movement about the longitudinal axis of said axle.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means to support one end of said frame, a steering frame mounted beneath the other end of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, an axle supporting member mounted in said steering iframe for movement about a horizontal axis extending lengthwise of said main frame, an axle journaled in said supporting member for rotation about its longitudinal axis, traction devices connected with the respective ends of said axle, an engine supported by said axle for movement therewith about said vertical axis and said horizontal axis, and mea-ns for operatively connecting said engine with said axle.

9. In a mechanism of the character described, a main frame, means to support one end of said frame, a steering frame mounted beneath the other end of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, an axle supporting member mounted in said steering frame for movement about a horizontal axis extending lengthwise of said main frame, an axle journaled in said supporting member for rotation about its longitudinal axis, traction devices connected with the respective ends of 

